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Rights of Persons with Disabilities: The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which the UK has ratified, states that people with disabilities should have access to adequate social protections and an adequate standard of living, with special measures to ensure they are not disadvantaged by public policy. If reforms undermine this standard, the UK could face international criticism or formal investigation from UN bodies, as it did in 2016, when the UNCRPD noted severe issues in how the UK treated disabled claimants in the welfare system

Hi mangomungo,

This Government are not interested in how changes will affect us

Last bit of info

If the UK government were found guilty of violating human rights through these WCA reforms, it could lead to several serious outcomes, though the specifics would depend on whether the judgment came from a UK court or an international human rights body. Here’s a breakdown of what could happen:

1. Judicial Review and Court Rulings in the UK

• If a domestic court, such as the UK High Court, ruled that the reforms violated human rights (under the Human Rights Act or other relevant UK laws), the government might be required to amend or repeal the specific parts of the policy found unlawful. A ruling like this could prevent the government from enforcing the reforms as planned until they align with human rights standards.
• Courts might also issue a declaration of incompatibility, stating that certain aspects of the reform do not comply with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which the UK incorporates through the Human Rights Act. While a declaration of incompatibility does not automatically change the law, it puts pressure on Parliament to revise it.

2. International Condemnation and Recommendations

• If a UN body, such as the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), determined the reforms violated international human rights obligations, the UK could face strong international criticism. The UN has previously investigated the UK’s welfare reforms and issued reports condemning their impact on disabled people. In 2016, the UNCRPD found that austerity measures had led to “grave and systematic violations” of disabled people's rights in the UK.
• While the UNCRPD cannot force legal changes, it can make formal recommendations and publish reports that increase public and international pressure on the government to adjust its policies. Such findings often draw significant media attention and increase domestic calls for reform.

3. Potential Sanctions and Penalties

• The UK is unlikely to face direct legal penalties, like fines or sanctions, from international human rights bodies, as they lack the power to enforce penalties. However, repeated violations of international human rights obligations could harm the UK’s reputation and weaken its influence on the international stage. It could also affect the UK’s ability to advocate for human rights globally if it is seen as violating them domestically.
• The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg does have the power to issue judgments against the UK. If a case went to the ECtHR and the court ruled that the reforms violated the ECHR, the UK would be obligated to amend the policy or risk fines. Although the UK technically retains sovereignty, consistent disregard for ECtHR rulings could lead to political tensions and challenges within the Council of Europe, of which the UK is a member.

4. Increased Advocacy and Political Pressure

• A human rights ruling would significantly empower advocacy groups, potentially leading to increased public protests and pressure on MPs to oppose or amend the reforms. Political parties may also respond to public outcry, especially if an election is near, by pledging to repeal or reform the WCA policies.
• Such rulings can also lead to long-term changes in public policy. For instance, following the UNCRPD’s 2016 report on UK welfare reforms, there were increased calls to revise disability assessments, leading to some gradual improvements in how assessments are conducted.

In summary, while international bodies can’t directly enforce changes, a human rights violation finding would likely push the UK government to reconsider or revise the policy. Domestically, UK courts could issue rulings that compel legal adjustments, and advocacy groups would have a strong basis for lobbying against the reforms, amplifying public and political pressure to protect vulnerable groups.